more to love...

I have the distinct priviledge of being 'Aunt Lizzy' to these adorable two nuggets:


Betsy Boo and Jamesey boy

When Betsy was born, my whole life changed. I never knew I had it in me to love something so much...she was (and still is) perfectly precious in every way. She quickly became one of my best buddies. There aren't many people in this world with whom I'd rather hang out with more.
Being Betsy's aunt taught me so much about God's love for us. My brother and sister-in -law lived just around the corner from us and were so generous in allowing us to spend a lot of time with her. In the first 365 days of Betsy's life, I probably got to see her 350 of them. I remember when she was just a little baby, I'd hold her and look into her eyes and melt... for the first 6 months or so, every time I would give her that last bottle of the day and rock her to sleep, I would weep. She would look up at me with such trust, such love. I would often think that the simple and silent exchanges Betsy and I had with eachother held much of what God's heart is for all of us. She was such a gift to me - she IS a gift to all of us!

She truly is a beauty:



And then came James. Monster man, monkey man, one man wrecking crew, SWEET BABY JAMES. James came to us 3 years after Betsy. I have to admit, looking back, I was so worried that I had reached my love capacity - that what I had, I had used up on Betsy. But to my surprise, God taught me something else about our ability to love...it grows. When that tiny little boy came into this world, I melted all over again. It's like God gave me a whole new love tank just for James...and I didn't have to share it with Betsy because she has her own. James was the snuggliest little baby I've ever known...so sweet, so happy. I would babysit for Betsy and James every other Monday night and nothing made me happier than to be with those two. James, as I would feed him and rock him to sleep, would stick his finger in my nose. This was a mere forshadowing to the rascal we have on our hands. James is the wild man of the family, the entertainment- the one that keeps us chasing and keeps us laughing.

He is the definition of JOY:

Tomorrow, at 8am, I get another tank. Baby Bailey #3, who in every way is a miracle (seriously - defeated ALL odds to get here) will make his or her way into this world. I am about to burst with excitement. I cannot wait to make new memories with this little one - to love (her) and to learn from (him). If it's a girl, I can't wait to buy her pink things and tell her she's a princess. If it's a boy, I can't wait to buy him a dump truck and tell him he's a prince. I can't wait to smell that sweet little baby's head and kiss it's face. I can't wait...I can't wait...I can't wait..................!!!!